Container



oct. 22, 1940. w; TMOSCHAT u 2,218,665

CONTAINER Filed Dec. 25. 1939 INVENT OR. W/LL/AM TAMoscHAr ATTORNEY-Patented oer. `n1e4o fwilliam Monnet.' New verk.

N. Y., saigner to Davia-n. zen, nroekiynm. Y.

' Appiieeaenneeember 23,1939, serial Ne. 31u95 v i 4-Clairns.

This invention relates to containers, such as cigarette cases, Vvanitycases or the like, and has for its general object and purpose to providea case of this character having certain novel structural featureswhereby a facing sheet of leather or other decorative exible materialmay be'easily, securely and lexpeditiously attached at its marginaledges to the case structure by unskilled labor, and withoutthe use ofadhesives.

It is 'a more particular object of the invention to provide a case orcontainer as above characterized embodying a continuous f sheet 'metalframe member of channel-.shaped form in cross section, a exible'decorative facing sheet tightly stretched over said frame member andhaving its marginal edges inwardly turned over the outer frame wall andextended intothe channel thereof, anda clamping member of angular crosssectional form assembled under pressure with said 20 frame member andhaving an inner ange provided., with means to interlock with complemen-4tary means on the inner wall ofthe' frame member and a, laterallyextending flange disposed'over the open side'of the frame channel and.exerting a tight compressing pressure upon the flexible material tosecurelyV clamp the same against the,

edge of the outer frame wall and eectually prevent the loosening ordisconnection of said flexible sheet from the frame member, whensubjected to excessive strain. .I

It is also a further object of the invention to provide a container orcase having similar complementary sectionseach of which'includes a vframe and clamping member and in which the vclamping members arehingedly connected with each other so that the facing sheets may firstbe separately assembled with and appliedto -the respective framemembers, and the latter then easily assembled and secured interlockingrelation 40 with the respective hinged clamping members.

With the above and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the improved container in f fthe form,construction and relative arrangement of its several parts, as willhereinafter vbe more 45 fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.-

In 'the drawing wherein I have shown one simple and practical embodimentof the invention 5 and'in which similar reference characters designmnatecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the con.y

illustratingl one practical |exntainer open and ubodimentof'thepresentinventiom- Y i l (Ci. 15o-46) Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional view.,` the container being closed, 'and Fig. 3 is a similarfragmentary sectional view 'ofone of the container sections on anenlarged scale.

For purposes of illustration, I have shown a familiar `type of containersuch as is'used as a holder or case for cigarettes, cosmetics, or otherarticles, in which the case or lcontainer comprises two complementaryhingedly connected sections. 10 While in the present instance, I haveillustrated these container sections as being of rectangular form, andof equal'capacity, it will of course, be understood as the descriptionproceeds that the invention is not restricted in its practical luse tothis specific form of the container sections, -or that the.complementary container vsections shall be exact structural counterpartsofeach other.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, as herein shown either one orboth of the container v sections comprises the continuous comparativelynarrow sheet metal frame member 5. 'Ihis frame member4 is 'of U-shapedforni in cross section to provide outer and inner side walls or ilangesand 'l respectively and a connecting base wall B which define acontinuous channel 0 of uniform width and depth.v lThe inner side wall 1of the 'frame member is provided, adjacent to the base wall I thereof,with suitably spaced openings I0 therethrough, for a purpose, which willbe presently explained. J

Ii designates a facing sheet of leather, fabric or other suitable.decorative material which is adapted to be tightly stretched over theframe member I. Preferably, a thin linersheet 'I2 of silk or othersuitable material extends over the inner surface of the facing sheet Hand has its marginal edges extended between said facing sheet and thebase wall l of the frame member.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, the

marginal edge portions of the flexible sheet Il are stretched over theouterfaces ofthe frame "wall C and turned inwardly over the edges ofsaid walls-as at il, the edge portions of the flexible sheet beingfolded downwardly l into the frame channel as at I4 and pressed closelyvagainst the inner faces of the side wall l and 'I andthe base wall 8 ofthe frame. The flexible material has sufficient stiffness so that saidfolded edge portions will remain in snug fitting engagement with the.channel walls of the frame during assembly with the hingedly connectedelements of the frame sections. Thus the use of adhesives or otherholding means `for the edge pox-tionen: the nexible sheet is dispensedwith frame l.

Each container section also includes a clampl ing member I5 of similarconguration to the frame member 5. 'Ibis clamping member is also in theform of a continuous sheet metal strip bent Y to provide an innervertical flange I8 and the laterally and youtwardly dextending flangeI1. The inner ilange Il adjacent its lower edge is provided at suitablyspaced points with the short outwardly struck lugs I8. 'I'he flanges I1of the two clamping members I! are connected by means of a conventionalform of hinge I9. so that when saidlclamping members are assembled withthel frame members l, the two case sections are connected for relativemovement to open and closed position.

After the flexible facing sheets II have been applied to the respectiveframe members 5 and their edge portions folded into the frame channelsas above explained, said frame members are then fitted over the. innerflanges I6 of the respective clamp members I5. When pressure is nowapplied from relatively opposite directions against the frame andclamping members, as the lugs I8 strike the edge oi the inner frame Wall1 when the flanges I6 are slightly sprung inwardly. 'I'hese lugs are inalignment with the respective openings I0 in the frame wall 1 and in thefinal application of pressure against said frame and clamping members,they register with and enter said openings as seen in Fig. 3 of thedrawing, to thereby securely interlock the frame and clamping memberwith each other. As the lugs It are thus brought into interlockingrelation with openings I0 the outer edge of the laterally extending angeI1 ofthe clamping member exerts a tight compressing pressure against thepart I3 of the facing sheet II which extends inwardly over the edge ofthe outer frame wall 6', thus securely and immovably clamping saidflexible sheet between the under surface of said flange I1 and the edgeof the frame wall. In this manner, loosening of the connection of thefacing sheet with the frame member 5, and its outward movement from theframe channel over the edge of the wall 8 is eilectually precluded, eventhough unusually severe strain may be placed upon the inner unsupportedarea of the facing sheet II.

The assembly operations as above described, are of courseexceedinglysimple and may be expeditiously performed by unskilled labor and sincethe use of adhesives or other preliminary holding means for the edge ofthe flexible sheet is avoided, it will be evident that by means of thepresent invention, the manufacturing or production costs of cases orcontainers of this character will be appreciably reduced. It will ofcourse be apparent that if desired, the edge of the outer frame wall 6may be roughened or provided with short teeth or serrations for grippingengagement with the flexible material. This would of course involve aslight extra expense, and for most purposes is unnecessary, if theopenings I0 and lugs I8 are properly located so that the frame andclamping members are assembled in interlocked relation under heavypressure.

The two sections of the case or container, are

means to releasably retain the two case sections closed all parts of theframe members 5 are completely covered and concealed by the decorativeof course provided with appropriate coacting latch amados e flexiblematerial, and that the only erposed or visible metallic parts are thethin meeting edges of the flanges I1. 'I'hese edges and the inner facesof the ilanges Il and outer surfaces of the ilanges I1 are highlypolished or burnished so that such visible surfaces, when the case isopened will present a pleasing apearance. Also the ornamental contrastbetween the decorative flexible covering material and the exposed metal'surfaces materially enhances the attractive appearance of cases orcontainers of this character.

In the foregoing description of the accompanying drawing, I have givenone example of a prac-4 tical embodiment of my present improvements.,-

However, as above indicated, many changes in structural detailmight beincorporated without sacrifice oi' the commercial or utilitarianadvantages of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that Ireserve the privilege of resort ing to all such legitimate modificationsin the form, construction and relative arrangement of the variousmechanical parts, as may fairly be comprehended as within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. I Y c,

I claim: i

l. In a container oi' the class described, a frame f member having acontinuous channel, a side wall comprising a sheet of flexible materialextending across said frame member and having marginal edge portionsover-lying the outer side and edge surfaces of the frame member andturned inwardly and downwardly into the frame channel, and a clampingmember having an inner vertical flange and' an outwardly extendinglateral flange, said frame and clamping members being assembled underpressure to cause the latter flange o'f the clamping member to tightlycompress the inturned part o f the flexible material'upon said framemember at the outer side of the channel therein with the verticalilange'of said clamping member in direct bearing contact with the innerwall of the frame member, and said vertical flange members in assembledrelation. I

2. In a container of the character described, a continuous sheet metalframe member of U- shaped form in cross section, a side wall com prisinga sheet of flexible material tightly stretched across said frame memberand having its marginal portions extended around the outer `member toexert a tight compressing pressure upon the ilexible material andconfine the same against movement between said flange and the edge ofthe outer wall of the frame member, and the inner wall of said framemember and the vertical iiange of the. clamping member having coactinginterlocking parts to retain said members in assembled relation.

3. In a container oi' the character described, a'

continuous Hsheet metal frame member of U- shaped form in cross section,a side wall comprising a sheet of ilexible material tightly 4stretchedacross said frame member and having its marginal portions extendedaround the outer -fedee vwardly l of the and turnedinover said wallsinto theframe channel.

and a clamping member of angular form in cross section having a verticalflange insertablewithlio i in said frame member and a lateral outwardlyextending ilange to close the open side of the frame channel, said frameand clamping members being assembled under pressure to cause the outeredge of said latter ange of the clamping mem -ber to exert a tightlcompressing pressure upon the exible material and connue the sameagainst movement between said flange and the edge` of f A4. In acontainer ofthe class described, a sheet metal frame member of Ufshapedform in cross I al vside wall for the `container comprising asheet offlexible material tightly stretched` across said frame member and'having its marginal portions extended over the outer edge walls thereof,inwardly turned over .the edges of said walls and folded into the framechannel in contact engagement with the opposite side walls and 1 thebasewall thereof, and a clamping member of angular form in cross sectionhaving an inner vertical ange insertable within .the frame member indirect bearing contact with the inner wall thereof and a lateraloutwardly extending flange,

said frame and clamping members being assembledunder pressure and saidlatter mange of the clamping member closing 'the open side of. the framechannel and tightly compressing the nexv ible material between itselfand the'edge of the y outer frame wall, and said vertical flange oftheclamping member'and the inner wall of the frame member having coactinginterlocking means to retain said frame andclamping members inasvsembled relation.v

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